Bill Manzi.com

Hillary Clinton last night called for unity, imploring her supporters to support Barack Obama. Her speech was greeted warmly, and she talked about the fact that her candidacy was about more than just electing Hillary Clinton. It was about ideas, and her point to the assembled masses was that Barack Obama, and not John McCain was the candidate best suited to carry those ideas forward. A good speech, and for Obama something that is an absolute necessity going forward.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/26414383#26414383

The Obama response, mocking McCain for his sixties flashback on Bill Ayers.

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The McCain attack ad trying to link Obama to Weather Underground radical Bill Ayers. The fact is that Obama was a young man when Ayers committed his crimes, and then served on a non-profit board with Ayers. That apparently makes him culpable for Ayers actions. I don’t think anyone is buying it, and I do not believe it has had any political impact or traction. The Rev. Wright situation certainly did have traction, and hurt Obama politically. Not so much here. Tom Hayden was the leader of the SDS and he was a state senator in California. I wonder if Obama is humming to himself the familiar Dylan refrain (posted here) “you don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows”

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Hillary denounces the McCain ad trying to woo her supporters. She says, “we are united”.

<embed src='http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/mmedia/player/wpniplayer_viral.swf?

John McCain puts out another ad trying to stoke the flames of the Clinton folks, with a Clinton supporter telling other dems that it is ok to vote for John McCain. Second ad looking to pick at this potential, with poll numbers showing how important it is to Obama to shore this constituency up.

After the country tune I posted here extolling the virtues of John McCain the Dems must have figured they needed to be more involved musically. I like it. Especially the nice hug Senator McCain is giving President Bush. I am sure we will see plenty of that shot before this campaign is over.

http://services.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f8/1185304443

The Democratic Party tribute to Ted Kennedy.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/26398112#26398112

Senator Ted Kennedy made a grand entrance to the Democratic Convention tonight, bringing the convention delegates to their feet for prolonged applause with his appearance. Teddy was introduced by Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, and gave a rousing speech in which he pledged to be in the Senate in January to help shepard what he hopes will be a newly elected President Obama’s health care package through the Congress. It was good to see Ted on the podium, and you had to know that his doctors likely vigorously opposed his appearance. He ignored them! A Democratic icon, and the last of the four brothers who all served their country, three giving their lives in such duty. God Bless Senator Kennedy.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/26398193#26398193

Joe Biden’s introductory video, put out by the Obama-Biden campaign. A call to arms.

Senator John McCain released his new ad today. Called “Passed Over” it tries to exploit the angst of Hillary supporters over her loss and then her non-inclusion on the ticket. With the Wall Street Journal/NBC survey showing Obama not having closed the deal with the Clintonistas McCain is trying to pick at that scab. A good convention for Obama, because of the current Clinton bloc reticence, could give him a bigger bounce if the Dems unite. I think Obama has the potential for a double digit bounce out of this convention. For those who criticized the Clinton role (I had some doubts myself) the strategy becomes clearer and vital. Lock down the Clinton bloc now.